James Elcocke-Harris of Vanuatu Information Centre (VIS) spoke to Maxmilian Wechsler about the country’s new citizenship by investment program, which offers an honorary second citizenship and passport in a tax-free, British Commonwealth member state, in exchange for a contribution to Vanuatu Government Development Funds

SO-CALLED “CIPs” (Citizenship by Investment Programs) are widespread in the Caribbean nations, and some exist in Europe. However, Vanuatu’s initiative isunique as the first and only CIP of its type in the Asia Pacific.

Citizenship is conferred on people who donated US$280,000 (under which a ‘family application’ of up to four can be made) to the country. Successful applicants have the same rights and privileges as a native Vanuatu citizen, except that they cannot stand for government office or get involved in politics in any way. “Vanuatu passport-holders enjoy significant benefits – such as visa-free visa on arrival travel to 127 countries – including the UK, Schengen Europe and Russia, with more countries added each year,” explained Mr Elcocke-Harris.

“VIC has its head office in PortVila, with branches in other Asiancapitals, now including Bangkok.We just opened a fledgeling officeon Sukhumvit Soi 26, and we plan onexpanding in the coming months.​“This is an aviation hub forSoutheast Asia, and so we areworking to establish direct flightsbetween Port Vila and Bangkok.It will connect us to China and theMiddle East, and even Europe andthe Americas. A whole new range ofmarkets will open up.

A former British Army Officer, MrElcocke-Harris was appointed by thegovernment of Vanuatu to representand promote its interests under theVIS initiative.

“As a small island nation, Vanuatu’sresources are limited, and their voiceis not very powerful.

“Vanuatu’s principal revenue sourceis tourism. We are relatively close toAustralia and New Zealand, so that’swhere most of our tourists come from.”

​“Vanuatu is located northeastfrom Australia in a little-knownarchipelago of 83 islands, 65 of thempopulated, spread over a maritimearea of 1,300 kilometres north tosouth. The population of 285,000 isquite dispersed, and this requires alot of air connectivity there are a lot offlights between islands.

​“The weather is good all yearround. During the daytime, thetemperature may get up to 28ºC butnot much more than that. At night itmay drop to 20ºC.